Air pollution causes 3 million people a year to die prematurely

Thursday, 17 September, 2015

Outdoor air pollution is a health hazard (as we all know). The impact of air pollution has now been quantified in a study published today in Nature. The authors estimate air pollution causes 3.3 million people a year globally to die earlier than they would have. Most deaths are in Asia. Ill health (not resulting in death) adds immensely to the burden of disease due to air pollution.

I was recently in Southeast Asia and was shocked by the level of pollution in their major cities. Kuala Lumpur and Jakata are covered in a haze said to be due to burning forests in Sulawesi. Residents commonly wear surgical masks in the street in an attempt to protect themselves. In 2013 my Travel Bug column in Medical Observer dealt with the issue of air pollution and travellers.